Officials also encouraged buyers to watch out for fine print at dealerships. Some dealers are requesting for the customer to make up the difference if the federal government fails to come through with the allowance, Media Relations Manager Kristin Alexander wrote in a blog post on the office’s Web site.

Remember: Ballots for the countywide primary election must be postmarked by Tuesday. Ballot envelopes must be signed.

Because King County voters cast ballots by mail, ballots are sent to registered voters 20 days before each election in which they are eligible to vote.

“This is King County’s second countywide, all-mail election,” King County Elections Director Sherril Huff said in a news release. “We have many new online features available to help voters with the vote-by-mail process, and we also encourage anyone who would like to see their elections office in action to come to our facility in Renton and view ballot processing from our public observation loop.”

Crews will begin excavation work at the Swedish Medical Center hospital campus Monday, hospital executives said today. Plans call for a medical office building, outpatient care center and — eventually — hospital beds on 18 acres in the Issaquah Highlands.

During the first phase of construction, crews will build the office building and outpatient center. Hospital executives said the initial phase would open in summer 2011. A second phase — with 80 hospital beds — is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2012. The second phase will eventually expand to 175 beds.

“People are anxious to have the care close to home,” said Kevin Brown, a Swedish Medical Center senior vice president leading the Issaquah expansion.

A man believed to be connected to July robberies at Emerald City Sun Tanning Center and Lovers’ was arrested last week in Snohomish County. Issaquah Deputy Police Chief Steve Cozart said the man was likely involved in the Issaquah heists. Read more

Population is 26,890

Issaquah Highlands residential construction in the same area is complete seven years later, and Talus (in the upper left of the photo) on Cougar Mountain is almost fully developed as well, looking from the same spot last month.Photo by Greg Farra

Issaquah residents, meet your new neighbors — all 15,678 of them.

Issaquah grew 139 percent since the start of the decade, adding residents through annexations and the influx of families into the hillside urban villages, Talus and Issaquah Highlands.

Figures released recently by the state Office of Financial Management show the city’s April 2009 population at 26,890. In April 2000, Issaquah was home to 11,212 people. State officials use the population data to determine how dollars will be allotted to municipalities.

The ensuing population explosion made the city the fifth fastest growing in Washington. State figures showed Issaquah trailing four smaller cities on the list of fastest-growing cities. Snoqualmie — the fastest growing — ballooned by 8,099 residents during the first year of the decade to 9,730 people today.

“We have more than surpassed our 20-year growth expectation,” city Major Development Review Team Program Manager Keith Niven said.

Issaquah is the 38th largest city in the state; the city ranked 61st in 2000. Seattle, with 602,000 residents, remains Washington’s largest city.

“It was originally a small concept,” Drinkwine said. “But now it has become something much bigger. At first, we had 12 herbs and now we have 35 and growing.”

The new herbs have been a success with the residents. The Food Committee, made up of residents, has asked others for feedback and the majority of reviews have been favorable.

“People are now noticing the herbs in the food,” resident and Food Committee member Joyce Zimmerman said. “They look for it in their food and try to guess what it is.”

“A lot of people here have a far range of tastes,” resident Baps Gray said. “These herbs should appease everyone. They did it right, there really is a community relationship with this herb garden.”

The herb garden has become something in which the community can take part.

“The residents have been great helping us,” Drinkwine said. “Whether it’s educating others or giving us ideas for maintaining it.”

The benefits extend beyond taste, Wagoner said.

“Herbs make foods healthier,” Wagoner added. “So flavor is not the only goal. We want nutritional food served to our residents and the herb garden helps us with that.”

A ribbon cutting ceremony for the herb garden will be held at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 18. Drinks and appetizers featuring the herbs will be served. The event is free and open to the public.

“This is not a one-time deal,” Drinkwine said. “We will continue to grow and harvest the herb garden.”

Employees at The University House could bring residents to the farmers market. Employees envision a field trip in which they pick herbs for the garden and residents are present during the selection process.

Reach intern Angelo Grosso at isspress@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.issaquahpress.com.

Shane Yarnell, one of Lakeside Recovery’s key arms powering them to the Pacific Northwest Regional Tournament in Medford, Ore., pitches to a Bellevue Baseball Club batter July 23 in an American Legion game at Newport High School. By Christopher Huber

Legion team is two wins from World Series

Another day, another hero. That was the theme for the Lakeside Recovery Senior team at the Pacific Northwest Regional Tournament in Medford, Ore., last week.

One day, it was Shane Yarnell, an Issaquah High School pitcher. Another day, it was pitcher Jared Lemke, a recent Skyline High School graduate, or outfielder Andrew West.

On Aug. 9, it was Skyline pitcher Peyton Harrod and Newport High School pitcher Cole Wiper. Harrod, in his most important starting assignment of the season, tossed eight strong innings as Lakeside eliminated the Billings, Mont., Scarlets 4-2 in a loser-out contest at Harry and David Stadium.

With the victory, Lakeside reached the Aug. 10 championship round against host Medford Mustangs. Lakeside, coming through the consolation bracket, needed to beat Medford twice to earn a berth to the World Series Aug. 14-18 in Fargo, N.D. Results were unavailable before The Press’ deadline.

Lakeside and Medford met earlier this season in a tournament in Portland, Ore., and Medford prevailed 31-22. Read more

Events

Campfire awaits Community Campfire, sponsored by Our Savior Lutheran Church, is from 6-8 p.m. every Wednesday through Aug. 19 at Sunset Beach at Lake Sammamish State Park. There will be guitars and singing, s’mores and hot dogs. Call 392-4169 or go to www.oslcissaquah.org. File

Two recently born Bengal tiger cubs will be on display from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. through Aug. 31 at the Cougar Mountain Zoo, 19525 S.E. 54th St. Admission is $8-$10.50. Call 391-5508.

WineStyles hosts “Attack of the Killer Bees” Wine Tasting from 5 – 9 p.m. Aug. 14. The Killer Bee label is from Chile and with two whites and four reds, it has a great variety. Fee of $5 includes a pour of each featured wine. Complimentary light appetizers are offered as well. For more information, go to www.winestyles.net/issaquah or call 837-8884.

It’s Vendor Appreciation Day at the Issaquah Farmers Market, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Aug. 15 at Pickering Barn, 1730 10th Ave. N.W. There will also be a natural health fair in the hay barn and the New Age Flamenco Band performs at 11 a.m. Call 837-3300. Read more